Suspended Indian pacer Shantakumaran Sreesanth has finally got a reprieve from Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) after his suspension period was reduced to 7 years as passed by the BCCI ombudsman. He was suspended in 2013 due to his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
By the time the ban ends, Sreesanth will be 37 years of age. He will be allowed to participate in professional cricket and will also be allowed to coach or mentor or commentate in the future years. Sreesanth”s ban started on 13th September 2013 and will end in 2020. Sreesanth was banned by the BCCI back in 2013 along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan.
On March this year, the Supreme Court dismissed the BCCI disciplinary committee’s order. In the latest order passed on 7th August, Jain stated that ‘ends of justice’ would be possible if they allow Sreesanth to take part in competitive cricket from next year.
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“…for Mr Sreesanth, who is now in his late thirties, his prime years as a cricketer, particularly as a fast bowler may already be over,” Jain wrote in his order.
“… I am of the view that banning Mr Sreesanth from participating in any kind of commercial Cricket or from associating with any activities of the BCCI or its affiliates, for a period of seven years with effect from 13.09.2013, i.e. the date from which, the period of ban imposed by the Disciplinary Committee had commenced, will meet the ends of justice,” Jain further said in the order.
“Although the BCCI has referred to his erratic behaviour, both on and off the field, with fellow players, but nothing has been brought on record by the BCCI to show that any sanction was imposed on him in the past. On the contrary, he was regularly participating in the national and international matches.
“In the report of the Commissioner, there is no allegation that Mr Sreesanth did not cooperate with the inquiry. Additionally, the BCCI has not been able to controvert the specific plea of Mr Sreesanth that the offences allegedly committed by him did not substantially damage the commercial value of the IPL matches or even the final result of the subject match,” Jain noted in his order.